Red Flag Warning returns to San Diego County, increased fire risk

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Dangerous fire-weather conditions and harsh winds are expected in San Diego County this week, forecasters said Sunday.

The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for San Diego County inland valleys and mountains, set to begin Monday at 10 a.m. and continue through Tuesday at 10:00 p.m. In addition, a High Wind Warning was issued for the same regions for Tuesday.

Forecasts call for northeast and east winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts up to 60 mph possible, and isolated gusts over 75 mph on the favored coastal slopes of the San Diego County Mountains increasing Monday afternoon and peaking overnight into Tuesday morning.

To reduce the risk of wildfire, San Diego Gas & Electric notified more than 83,000 customers that their power may be turned off as part of Public Safety Power Shutoffs from Monday morning through late Tuesday night. 

As of Monday, January 20 at 1:00 p.m., 932 customers had their power shut off.

Click here to see the map of impacted areas.

To prepare for possible power loss, SDG&E recommends several precautionary measures:

1. Unplug electrical equipment such as computers, TVs, and cable boxes, or use surge protectors.
2. Ensure flashlights have fresh batteries.
3. Charge cell phones and have power banks ready.
4. Limit opening refrigerators and freezers; use frozen water bottles to maintain food temperature.
5. For extended outages, consider purchasing dry ice.
6. The utility company also advises customers with electric garage doors to park vehicles in their driveways and urges those reliant on medical equipment to develop backup plans with their suppliers.

SDG&E emphasizes the importance of proper generator use, stating, “Unless it was installed by an electrician, standby or portable generators should not be connected to your electric service panel or any electrical outlet.”

• Outdoor Burning: Avoid outdoor burning during the Red Flag warning period as it is not recommended due to the high risk of rapid fire spread.
• Property Protection: Secure outdoor property to prevent damage from strong winds and be cautious of difficult driving conditions.
• Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with the latest weather forecasts and alerts from the National Weather Service and SDG&E.
• Emergency Preparedness: Ensure you have a plan in place for emergencies, including evacuation routes and emergency contact numbers.

In December, strong Santa Ana winds brought critical fire danger, power outages, school closures, and even overturned semi-trucks to San Diego County. Follow the San Diego County Office of Education on X for updates on any school closures.

Santa Ana Winds occur when air from the desert region blows westward toward the California coast.  This results in dry air that flows est to west over the mountains and towards the valleys and coast of Southern California. Santa Ana winds typically feel warm because as the cool desert air moves down the side of the mountain, it is compressed, which causes the temperature of the air to rise. We tend to see relative humidity plummet and temperatures soar during offshore wind events like this. 

These winds create high fire conditions not only for a fire to start but offshore, Santa Ana winds are the perfect fan needed to allow a fire to explode in size once it starts. 

The water year restarts every year on October 1 and measures the rain totals for the season through the following September. When rain totals are below average, the vegetation that once was green turns brown and dry and can serve as fuel for wildfires. The saturated ground can help mitigate fire risk substantially, but the opposite tends to elevate our fire risk. The sooner and more frequently we see substantial rainfall, the lower our risk is for a wildfire to start and spread rapidly. 

When a region is in critical fire danger, power companies tend to shut off power in pre-planned ways in order to prevent electrical equipment from sparking or starting fires. It is also because electric consumption tends to climb with warmer temperatures (usually thanks to A/C needs) and can lead to overall stress on the power grid. When you combine the risk of fire with planned power shut-offs, many school districts will close. Schools can also be used as monitoring sites for fire crews in the event of a fire starting.

CalFire has built a list of things to have ready in case you and your family are evacuated during any wildfire or disaster. 

Ensure your wildfire ‘Go Bag’ includes:

• A 3-day supply of non-perishable food & 3 gallons of water per person
• A map with at least 2 evacuation routes
• Necessary prescriptions or medications
• A change of clothes & extra eyeglasses/contact lenses
• Extra car keys, credit cards, cash, or traveler’s checks
• A first aid kit & sanitation supplies
• A flashlight & battery-powered radio with extra batteries
• Copies of important documents (birth certificates, passports, etc.)
• Pet food & water

Always have sturdy shoes and a flashlight near your bed, ready for sudden night evacuations.

If time allows, consider adding:

• Valuables that are easy to carry
• Family photos and irreplaceable items
• Personal computer data on hard drives and disks
• Chargers for cell phones and laptops